Opondo Suggests Mbabazi Must Resign from Parliament

Opondo Suggests Mbabazi Must Resign from Parliament

Amama Mbabazi must relinquish his position as Kinkiizi West MP after declaring intentions to contest for president on the independent ticket, said a top NRM official Friday.

“If Mbabazi is decent enough he should return the NRM card, resign from parliament and become an independent,” said NRM Deputy Spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo.

He said the Constitution provides that once an elected Member of Parliament crosses the floor, one must resign – leading to a by-election.
It states one loses an MP seat, “If that person leaves the political party for which he or she stood as a candidate for election to Parliament to join another party or to remain in Parliament as an independent member.”

Mbabazi today said six weeks ago he declared his intention to stand for presidency but that the idea was not well received by the NRM top brass whom he accused of frustrating him.

“For me what is alive today as it was back then is a desire to serve my country but the fact is that the NRM has sought to obstruct my intentions completely,” Mbabazi said.

In response, Opondo said Mbabazi’s actions “can compel us to petition Electoral Commission and other authorities to get him out of Parliament.”

“We appeal to his honourable wisdom to return the NRM card. If Mbabazi has problems with the law, let him go to court.”